Some of the NBA's biggest former and current stars, as well as the African continent's brightest entrepreneurs, musicians and influencers are set to descend on Johannesburg in August as the NBA Africa Game returns to South Africa for the third time.
NBA Africa vice president Amadou Gallo Fall announced during the NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles that the NBA Africa Game between Team World and Team Africa will take place on 4 August in Gauteng at a venue still to be announced.
The game will honour the centenary of the birth of former SA president Nelson Mandela and will be played in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The announcement of the NBA Africa Game returning to Johannesburg was made at a swanky luncheon at the Indigo Hotel in downtown Los Angeles moderated by CNN anchor Isha Sesay.
To give an indication of the growth and importance of NBA Africa's role to the multibillion dollar NBA organisation, the announcement was attended by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and a host of celebrities, basketball stars and African entrepreneurs.
An indication of the kind of star power soon to descend on Johannesburg again is that the launch was attended by the likes of NBA global ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, NBA players Frank Ntilikina (New York Knicks), Emmanuel Mudiay (New York Knicks), Cheick Diallo (New Orleans Pelicans), Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic), actor Djimon Hounsou and singer Akon, among others.
Sesay also moderated an "Africa Now" panel discussion featuring Akon, the World Bank's vice president for Africa, Makhtar Diop, entrepreneur and Uncharted Play founder Jessica Matthews and Sundial Brands chief executive Richelieu Dennis, the Shea Moisture founder who recently bought Essence Magazine from Time Inc.
SA celebrities who attended included socialites and personalities such as Nomzamo Mbatha and Pearl Thusi, rapper Cassper Nyovest and filmmaker Akin Omotoso.
